Celts make 22 threes in Game 7, oust Bucks
Grant Williams made seven threepointers on his way to a career-high 27 points, Jayson Tatum added 23 and the host Celtics set a Game 7 record with 22 three-pointers en route to eliminating the defending champion Bucks with a 109-81 rout Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The result moved the Celtics into the conference finals against the Heat, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday in Miami.
The Celtics trailed early but outscored the Bucks 61-38 in the second half to cruise to victory. The Bucks got 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists from Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they shot only 4-for-33 — 12.1% — from three-point range.
† Luka Doncic scored 27 of his 35 points in the first half, and the visiting Mavericks held the Suns to 50 points in the first three quarters on their way to an embarrassing 123-90 rout in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. The Mavs will face the Warriors in Game 1 of the conference finals Wednesday in San Francisco.
Pirates win without getting a hit
The Pirates became only the sixth major-league team since 1901 to win without getting a hit, defeating the visiting Reds 1-0 on an RBI fielder’s choice by Ke’Bryan Hayes after loading the bases on three walks in the eighth inning.
By Major League Baseball recordkeeping rules, the Reds’ accomplishment doesn’t qualify as an official no-hitter because the game didn’t go at least nine innings.
† Albert Pujols made his first career pitching appearance in his 2,988th major-league game, allowing four runs — including two home runs — in the ninth inning of the host Cardinals’ 15-6 rout of the Giants. He also went 2-for-3 with two walks as the DH.
Wolves finish sweep of IceHogs
Alex Lyon made 29 saves, and the Wolves completed a three-game sweep of their Calder Cup playoff series with a 4-1 victory against the IceHogs in Rockford. Next up for the Wolves is a best-of-five series against the Admirals in the Central Division finals. Games 1 and 2 are set for Saturday and Sunday at Allstate Arena.
† Former Blackhawks wing Artemi Panarin scored a power-play goal 4:46 into overtime to give the Rangers a 4-3 victory against the visiting Penguins in the decisive Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.
Kurt Busch captures Cup race
Kurt Busch squeezed his way past Kyle Larson for the lead with eight laps to go, then drove away from him down the stretch to win the NASCAR Cup Series race in Kansas City, Kansas. Busch’s victory was the first this season and second overall for the team co-owned by Bulls legend Michael Jordan and driver Denny Hamlin.
† K.H. Lee successfully defended his title in the Byron Nelson in suburban Dallas, closing with a 9-under-par 63 to earn a one-stroke victory over hometown favorite Jordan Spieth. Lee completed 72 holes at 26-under 262.
† Ava Cook scored in the 90th minute, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Red Stars from falling 2-1 to the Wave in National Women’s Soccer League play in San Diego.